What’s driving lawmakers to blow through budget caps established in the Budget Control Act? There is bipartisan support for a big spending increase to build up our military. Beyond that, some Republicans will object if the deal does not include funding for Trump’s long-promised border wall. As for the Democrats, they are all but sure to object to any deal that doesn’t match defense-spending increases with equal increases for domestic programs.

What’s missing from the discussion are the fiscal hawks who have helped to ensure that every other budget-cap deal struck since 2011 included spending offsets. Where have they flown?